Montana Nationally Recognized for Protecting the Voting Rights of Military Service Members and Their Families

HELENA, MT – Secretary of State Linda McCulloch is pleased to announce that Montana was recently recognized as an All-Star state by the national Military Voter Protection Project for taking significant efforts to promote and protect the voting rights of America’s military service members and their families. (Visit Montana’s All-Star Page.)

The recognition serves as a reminder that Montana’s eligible military and overseas citizens can vote in the November General Election as early as September 21 by casting an absentee ballot (which will be mailed to them by county election offices) or using the Secretary of State’s Electronic Absentee System (EAS).

“Every eligible Montanan should be able to vote and know that their vote is counted,” Secretary McCulloch said. “We have citizens stationed all over the world in service to our country, and I will continue to work to make voting as accessible for them as possible. Montana’s troops and their families make great sacrifices defending our freedom. Their voices matter, and in Montana, they can easily register and vote, and track their absentee ballot from practically anywhere in the world.”

Montana is one of 21 states to receive the All-Star recognition. The Military Voter Protection Project looked at a number of factors to determine the honorees, including the state’s outreach efforts, web-based services, and accountability to providing absentee military ballots no later than 45 days before the election.

“Now is the time for all military members to register to vote and prepare for the election,” Secretary McCulloch said. “If you’re already registered, it’s important to verify that your information is accurate.”

Counties will mail absentee ballots to the absent military and overseas electors who have requested one, no later than September 21. Alternatively, eligible voters may use the Secretary of State’s Electronic Absentee System (EAS).

Any registered voter in Montana may vote by absentee ballot. To vote absentee, fill out an Application for Absentee Ballot or Annual Absentee List Application. The application must be turned in to the county election office before noon the day before Election Day. Voters on the Annual Absentee List will be mailed their ballot on October 9. Absentee voters can track the status of their ballot online with My Voter Page, the Secretary of State’s latest online voter tool.

Information about registering and voting can be found online at sos.mt.gov.